The anticipation of turning 21...

Probably the greatest tradition of your 21st night (in addition to getting a free shot at every bar you go to) is displaying your legitimate ID to every bouncer you come across, waving it in their faces obnoxiously while screaming, spitting and slurring that you're 21.

This is completely acceptable behavior, unless the bouncers have gotten to know you as a regular by the fake ID you've been using for the past two years and are so pissed at your deception that they kick you out anyway.

It's crazy to realize that throughout all the years of build up of turning the big 2-1, it means almost nothing to me. It's just another milestone. All I can think about right now is turning 25 so my insurance will go down.

If you go out and get drunk it's a guarantee that you're going to pass out, puke, pass out and then puke while you're passed out on your 21st birthday.

It will be memorable, but only because you won't be able to remember it. That's why you have to be choosy about who takes you out, because you're going to have to relive this night for at least a month afterwards. When I was in high school, alcohol and many other issues such as sex and drugs were all available for temptation.

All of my close friends were so excited about going to some party on the weekend and drinking underage and talking about how they could not wait until they turned 21 so they could go out and get wasted.

I remember sometimes thinking the same thing because I wanted to continue fitting in with my friends. I was not cool unless I did what everyone else was doing.

Also, one of the major things �high school and college kids� are known for doing is drinking and partying all night long. After you turn 21 the first month is the greatest.

All academic progress comes to a complete standstill because you've found a reason to go out for drinks every night during the week. For one month it's the sweet taste of freedom with no more nervous feelings in the pit of your stomach, no more hunting down friends who are 21, no more underage drinking tickets, and eventually, no more money.� And you won't realize the last part until you're closing your tab one night and you realize that credit cards have limits.

And so it's back to bumming cheap beers and only going downtown for Wednesday night $1 rail drinks. So now you're legal and cheap. Unless you're a chick, in which case there's no reason for you to ever buy your own drinks again.

But now that I am in college all I really want to do is concentrate on graduating and getting a job. Some people may say that is sad but I just don't care as much about it as I thought I would.

I know growing up has nothing necessarily to do with alcohol but it is directly related to never being satisfied with your age at the time or the stage your life is going through right now.